Claire Sahara Illustration – Gravitating towards beauty, nostalgia, nature, the familiar

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HOMEBo Brallier2021-07-15T15:52:02+00:00

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The bits and bobs: thoughts, updates, creative process.

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CLAIRE SAHARA

clairesahara

The previous version was a tad lifeless, so I scri

The previous version was a tad lifeless, so I scribbled crayon all over the top and cut out the corner! Voilà! At least it has more feeling now

I’ve been wanting to try out Mapcrunch for finding different Google images of locations in the world to draw from! It took me to this spot in France (Pays de la Loire). Okay, I did set the settings to France. There’s something about France in October

#walktosee #abstractlandscape #landscapepainting #carandache #frenchlandscape #paysdelaloire #sketchdaily #illustrationage #illustrationartists #waxpastels #gouachepainting #mapcrunch #locationdrawing #latefall #autumncolors #october

Wind and rain and stormy-blues and golden tamarack

Wind and rain and stormy-blues and golden tamaracks and Winchell in the dark and soaking mist and chocolate and curry and fresh fish and sleeping bag smell and roaring winds and lemon-ginger tea and piercing skies and Davis portage and chapped lips and tail winds and head winds and billowing sunsets and Max. Some of my favorite things.

#bwca #bwcaw #bwcawilderness #friendsbwcaw #boundarywaters #boundarywaterscanoearea #boundarywaterscanoeareawilderness #bwcapture #october #lateseason #northernminnesota

Today Gideon scribbled all over a piece I’ve bee

Today Gideon scribbled all over a piece I’ve been spending a lot of time on. So, instead of sinking into despair like I was tempted, I signed up for an online life drawing class last minute with @drawing_life_glasgow . It was a lovely 2-hours with a group of artists from all over the world. So fun! So out of my comfort zone! I actually felt less pressure because of already having flopped on one thing today—just more evidence that messy failure flopping moments are probably the most valuable parts of life.

If you are interested in any way in life drawing, I’ve found these online sessions to be so enjoyable and relaxed—they are open to anybody. I am thinking about joining their portrait club. Thank you @drawing_life_glasgow !

#lifedrawing #onlinelifedrawing #zoomlifedrawing #portrait #drawinglife #observationaldrawing #sketchdaily #tellastory #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #visualstorytelling #lifemodel #illo #illustrationartists #illustratorsofig #sketchcollector #artoftheday #sketchcollector #drawinglifeglasgow

Our chickens started laying eggs this past week! B

Our chickens started laying eggs this past week! Blueish-gray and brown and tan 🥚We’ve been learning the ropes since they joined us + are still trying to figure out how our most adventurous lady keeps escaping to the neighbor’s yard. We’ll be sitting peacefully by the window and suddenly see her little waltz through the trees—off on a little adventure

#kidlitart #picturebookillustration #animalillustration #animalart #chickensofinstagram #chickencoop #walktosee #illustrationartists #illustratorsofinstagram #illustratorsofig #watercolorillustration #danielsmithwatercolors #etchr #minnesotaartist #tellastory #creativityeveryday #sketchdaily

Hi, hello, I’m Claire! I am empathetic and sort

Hi, hello, I’m Claire! I am empathetic and sort of stubborn, daydreamy and a bit reserved. I love dry humor and black licorice and also bread and cheese and tomatoes fresh from the garden. I am independent, intuitive, and like to watch people from a distance. I am probably the worst small-talker you’ve ever met. I either go deep or get very awkward and tumble over my words (actually, I tend to do that anyway). I love being alone! And with other people! It depends. I’m learning to be more gentle with myself. I’m learning that I want to play more than try to be perfect in my work. I am so excited about illustration that sometimes I can’t sleep. This isn’t really an intro, but thank you for being here to share some bits of life and art with me. I hope that my work is simply a reminder of the beauty in your own life. If you feel so compelled, I’d love to hear about 1) something that inspires you + 2) something that makes you feel like you in the comments. Cheers ✨

📸: @riahbethphoto

#minnesotaartist #illustrator #illustrationartists #mnartist #duluthmn #illustragram #clairesaharaillustration #duluthloveslocal #artistintro #intro

Some blurry, happy shots (mostly due to the fact w

Some blurry, happy shots (mostly due to the fact we forgot our headlamps). I probably took better photos, but these ones capture some of the important things, such as the joy of black licorice and Gideon giggling in the tent. Max had to stick one leg in the vestibule of said tent to make us fit when it came to actually sleeping.

I never want to forget time spent here, even if it’s just for a night and even if lugging around our old Grumman sometimes makes my shoulders cry. It’s always the best.

#bwca #bwcawilderness #friendsbwcaw #savetheboundarywaters #boundarywaters #boundarywaterscanoeareawilderness

On our way here today!! Can’t wait, it’s been

On our way here today!! Can’t wait, it’s been too long

“Glass Dawn”

#boundarywaters #bwca #bwcawilderness #savethebwca #friendsbwcaw #northernminnesota #northshoremn #illustrationartist #watercolorillustration #watercolorpainting #watercolorlandscape #duluthmn #minnesotaartist #mnartist

Sketch I’m currently working out into a painting

Sketch I’m currently working out into a painting ✨

As I begin into what feels like a new season in my work, I’ve been thinking a lot about storytelling and how I’d like that to be a central part of what I’m doing. Something specific I’d like to start working on is character development. I have an idea bubbling up—one that kept me up all night last night because it was apparently more exciting than sleep 🙄. I’m not sure if it’s going to take form, but it feels like a fresh place to begin exploring some new things

I’ve also been playing more with materials and layering! I love the look of watercolor and gouache on its own, but adding colored pencil or even crayon (I use what I call “fancy crayons” because they are higher quality wax pastels..so, crayons) has been really interesting in terms of adding texture. Maybe I’ll show you some of this work soon.

Lastly, and most importantly, I’m considering buying a tube of “Opera Rose” gouache. Aka hot pink. I do not even know who I am anymore, but for some reason I’m convinced this is a good idea and that I love pink. Should I do it?! Is it a phase??

#sketch #sketchbook #illustrationnow #illustrationsketch #illustrationwork #illustrationstudent #illo #wip #wipart #characterdesign #characterdevelopment #mama #minnesotaartist

Peyton + Johnny These two! I hope I captured eve

Peyton + Johnny

These two! I hope I captured even 1/1000 of the magic of who they are. I was honored to paint something inspired by the celebration of their marriage. Things that will stick with me and those who took part in that evening: flower crowns and cosmos flowers, the whimsical forest and land @fairhavenfarmer, sinking into a slice of wood-fired pizza and other thoughtfully-prepared foods, good and deep and loving people all around, a dramatic entrance thanks to @kyle_will_cook and @emmrichey, a tent strung with lights, dancing in an old barn, SO much love. We won’t soon forget it ✨

#watercolorillustration #latesummer #cosmosflower #danielsmithwatercolors #illustrationartists #minnesotaartist #duluthloveslocal #clairesaharaillustration #weddingillustration #illustrationnow #womenofillustration #duluthartist #floralillustration #autumnwedding #floral #gouachepainting #gouacheillustration #watercolorpainting #barnwedding #blundstones

On the garden theme, here is Gids in his element,

On the garden theme, here is Gids in his element, galloping through the vegetables 🍅 🍂 @riahbethphoto

#gardengallop #gideon #gardenlife🌱

“Ode to Raspberries” at Strawberry Hill commun

“Ode to Raspberries” at Strawberry Hill community garden

This one’s for Gideon, celebrating his raspberry-picking (or, in his words, “rice” picking) expertise. We spent many a walk or evening in the garden this summer searching for—and eating—these bright and juicy little gems (or dry and prickly if, like Gideon, you do not want to those ones go to waste either).

#kidlitillustration #childrensbookillustration #gouacheillustration #gouachepainting #mnartist #raspberries #raspberryleaf #mamaandson #whimsicalart #illustree #duluthloveslocal #duluthcommunitygardenprogram #strawberryhill

Anyone else feel like they come alive in September

Anyone else feel like they come alive in September? September’s always felt like the start of a new year to me

📸: @riahbethphoto

#september